WATCH: Protests as 'rapist' appears in Bronkhorstspruit court

Scores of protesters demonstrate outside the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court in a case they believe was caused by racism. Picture: James Mahlokwane

JAMES MAHLOKWANE

Scores of Economic Freedom Fighters and Clevozi members travelled to Witbank to demonstrate outside the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court as the white man accused of raping and forcing a black woman to have sex with his two dogs is expected to appear in court.

The accused is expected to arrive with the police from custody after he abandoned his bail application last year for fear of his life amid the protests outside the court during his appearances.

He will be appearing before magistrate France Tsatsi since his family made an application to see him sent for psychiatric observation at the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria.

The application has since been set aside for the court to first decide if the accused was mentally stable to face prosecution as per the legal requirement.

However, prosecutor Sello Leballo said the National Prosecuting Authority was determined to oppose the application as it was a normal tactic used by suspects to avoid facing the might of the justice system.

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Scores of protesters demonstrate outside the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court in a case they believe was caused by racism. Video: James Mahlokwane

The state is expected to bring a psychiatrist in to inform the court that the accused was mentally stable enough to face prosecution. The psychiatrist had put his professional opinion in writing but the defence, Hihleketani Maluleke, insisted that the court bring the doctor to court in person.

Maluleke argued that the accused could have suffered from a condition which enabled an insane person to act sane for a limited period of time during police interrogation, giving the investigating officer the impression that he was sane.

Clevozi members travelled by bus from Witbank to support the fighters in their demonstrations.

The non-profit organisation chairperson Best Masilela said: "Word of what this man did to a woman reached us in Witbank and we decided that the EFF needed our support. We feel it was racist and after decades of a democratic regime these things should not continue to happen. We are also a structure that stands against abuse and we therefore support the victim and her family,"